Public health efforts toward smoking cessation have contributed to the decline in the percentage of U.S. smokers over the last 3 decades from 32.1 % to 18.1% (CDC, 2014). However, smoking cessation efforts are largely directed at the general public, leaving more specific groups like those with serious mental illnesses with little to no cessation support. This is of particular concern considering 58% - 90% of those suffering serious mental illness are heavy smokers, increasing the risk of health related illnesses (Esterberg & Compton, 2005; Dickerson et al., 2011). This particular population presents significant challenges in the designing of cessation programs in light of their social and cognitive deficits. This paper explores two studies; one investigates Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the other Transtheoretical Model (TTM) as they pertain to cessation programs for the mentally ill.
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The study concluded SCT to be the most applicable theory in designing cessation programs for this population. Researchers based the conclusion on identified risk and protective factors, their categorization into SCT constructs and analysis of the dynamic interaction between factors. The risk factors, (severity of social and cognitive deficits and nicotine as a symptom suppressant) were categorized into the ‘personal’ construct of SCT. Protective factors (family members and close acquaintances with a smoking related illnesses, expense of cigarettes, and advice/support from others) were categorized into the ‘environmental’ construct. Protective environmental factors were found to be the most influential. This indicates SCT’s outcome expectations and observational learning has a significant affect on this challenged
The study concluded SCT to be the most applicable theory in designing cessation programs for this population. Researchers based the conclusion on identified risk and protective factors, their categorization into SCT constructs and analysis of the dynamic interaction between factors. The risk factors, (severity of social and cognitive deficits and nicotine as a symptom suppressant) were categorized into the ‘personal’ construct of SCT. Protective factors (family members and close acquaintances with a smoking related illnesses, expense of cigarettes, and advice/support from others) were categorized into the ‘environmental’ construct. Protective environmental factors were found to be the most influential. This indicates SCT’s outcome expectations and observational learning has a significant affect on this challenged